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Podcasting News and InformationThu, 21 Feb 2019 13:15:56 +0000en-UShourly1Podcaster News covers Podcasting, Podcasts, Gear, Tips, Tutorials, Apps, Podcast NewsPodcaster NewsPodcaster Newsgeeknews@gmail.comgeeknews@gmail.com (Podcaster News)Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0The #1 News and Information Site for Podcasters and Media CreatorsPodcaster Newshttp://podcasternews.com/wp-content/uploads/powerpress/pcn-itunes.jpghttp://podcasternews.com
TV-YHonolulu, HawaiiWeeklyMarvel’s Wolverine: The Lost Trail Makes it to Stitcher Premiumhttp://podcasternews.com/2019/02/21/marvels-wolverine-the-lost-trail-makes-it-to-stitcher-premium/
http://podcasternews.com/2019/02/21/marvels-wolverine-the-lost-trail-makes-it-to-stitcher-premium/#respondThu, 21 Feb 2019 13:15:56 +0000http://podcasternews.com/?p=4702Continue reading Marvel’s Wolverine: The Lost Trail Makes it to Stitcher Premium→]]>Marvel and top listening service and content network, Stitcher (Heaven’s Gate, Katie Couric), announced the second season premier date for its highly-anticipated and iHeartRadio Award-winning original podcast series Marvel’s Wolverine: The Lost Trail. The 10-episode second season will air weekly, exclusively on Stitcher Premium, beginning Monday, March 25, 2019, and will be released widely across all podcast platforms later in the year.

Following the incredible fan reception of Marvel’s Wolverine: The Long Night, Richard Armitage (“The Hobbit”) will reprise his role as Logan in Marvel’s Wolverine: The Lost Trail.

Marvel’s Wolverine: The Lost Trail is an epic quest that takes place in the Louisiana bayou. Following the events of Marvel’s Wolverine: The Long Night, Logan (Richard Armitage) returns to New Orleans in search of redemption, only to discover that his ex-lover, Maureen is nowhere to be found. And she’s not the only one.

Dozens of humans and mutants have gone missing, including the mother of a teenage boy, Marcus Baptiste. With Weapon X in close pursuit, Logan and Marcus must team up and follow a trail of clues that leads them deep into the gothic heart of the bayou, where they encounter biker gangs, Cajun thieves and a world of wonders that defies explanation. It is here that they find Greenhaven – a refuge run by a powerful mutant named Jason Wyngarde.

Award-winning comic book author Ben Percy (“The Dark Net,” “Red Moon”), director Brendan Baker (Wolverine: The Long Night) and associate director Chloe Prasinos (Wolverine: The Long Night) will return for the series, produced by Daniel Fink and Chloe Wilson of Marvel and Jenny Radlet Mast of Stitcher.

All 10 episodes of Marvel’s Wolverine: The Long Night are currently available on all major podcast platforms and devices.

]]>http://podcasternews.com/2019/02/21/marvels-wolverine-the-lost-trail-makes-it-to-stitcher-premium/feed/0Wondery Announces 2019 Programing Slate at Winter Podcast Upfronthttp://podcasternews.com/2019/02/21/wondery-announces-2019-programing-slate-at-winter-podcast-upfront/
http://podcasternews.com/2019/02/21/wondery-announces-2019-programing-slate-at-winter-podcast-upfront/#respondThu, 21 Feb 2019 11:53:48 +0000http://podcasternews.com/?p=4698Continue reading Wondery Announces 2019 Programing Slate at Winter Podcast Upfront→]]>Wondery, the largest independent podcast publisher, announced its new programming slate for 2019 at the Winter Podcast Upfront. Fresh off the success of its most recent #1 hit Over My Dead Body – with Episode 1 currently at 900 downloads, 80% higher than Dr Death in the comparable window – Wondery made the following announcements.

Wondery has extended its partnership with the LA Times to jointly produce Man in the Window, a true crime thriller that uncovers new and surprising details about the Golden State Killer. Wondery and the LA Times will also jointly distribute the series Larger Than Life and Room 20. Their first collaboration was the viral 2017 podcast Dirty John, which became a hit TV show on Bravo.

Wondery also announced a new partnership with Bloomberg. Under this partnership, Wondery and Bloomberg will jointly produce The Shrink Next Door, the bizarre true story of a successful businessman whose life was taken over by his psychiatrist.

Another major announcement was the return of Wondery’s acclaimed Inside miniseries, with Inside Star Wars. Written and hosted by Mark Ramsey, Inside Star Wars is an immersive audio-documentary that explores the making of Star Wars. Previous installments of the Insideseries include Inside Psycho,Inside Jaws, and Inside the Exorcist– all of which were smash hits.

Wondery also revealed the launch of several new ongoing series, including One Plus One and The Moment. One Plus One looks at what happens when two original thinkers come together to leave an unforgettable mark on the world, while The Moment explores the romance and absurdity of our lives’ most important moments.

In addition, Wondery is launching its first-ever sports show, In The Arena, which takes listeners into the most heated rivalries in sports history. Wondery is also launching a new interview series with actor Justin Long called Getting Along With Justin Long.

]]>http://podcasternews.com/2019/02/21/wondery-announces-2019-programing-slate-at-winter-podcast-upfront/feed/0Your Podcast May Have Been Added to Himalayahttp://podcasternews.com/2019/02/21/your-podcast-may-have-been-added-to-himalaya/
http://podcasternews.com/2019/02/21/your-podcast-may-have-been-added-to-himalaya/#respondThu, 21 Feb 2019 02:26:40 +0000http://podcasternews.com/?p=4693Continue reading Your Podcast May Have Been Added to Himalaya→]]>Himalaya is a platform for podcasters to create podcasts, connect, and share content with their fans. When podcast creators use Himalaya, they can gain support from their listeners and interact with the podcast community like never before.

The first thing I noticed when I looked at the Himalaya website was a bright red-orange button that said “Claim Your Show”. This is never a good sign. It indicates that Himalaya has gone ahead and added podcasts to itself without bothering to contact any of the podcasts hosts first. To me, this feels dishonest.

Want to find out if your podcast is already on Himalaya? You can search for it on the “Find Your Show” part of the Himalaya website.

Neither of the solo podcasts I do are there. My solo shows are not on iTunes. They just exist on my website. However, two other podcasts that I am involved in are on Himalaya. Both of those are on iTunes. From this, it appears that Himalaya is adding shows from iTunes.

If you do a search for your podcast on the Himalaya website, and it is not there, you can contact them to have it added. It is not clear how to contact them if you would like your show removed. There is no information about whether or not Himalaya links back to the podcast’s actual feed.

Himalaya is an app that can be downloaded for free from the App Store or Google Play. According to the information on Himalaya’s FAQ, the only way a podcast’s listeners can send money through Himalaya is to download the Himalaya app.

Personally, I see this as a limitation. If none of your listeners want to download the Himalaya app, then you cannot possibly make any money via Himalaya. To me, it sounds like a podcaster would have to use up some of their show time doing advertising for the Himalaya app before they could potentially make any money from it.

Let’s suppose, for a minute, that each and every one of your listeners decides to download the Himalaya app and that all of them start giving you tips through it. In order to get paid, you would have to submit your PayPal information to Himalaya. Podcasters get paid on a monthly basis. It is unclear if Himalaya takes a cut or not.

Personally, I’m not going to use Himalaya. It troubles me when companies add people’s podcasts to their website or app without asking permission from the podcasters first. It is situations like this one that make me avoid putting my solo podcasts on iTunes. I expect Himalaya is going to face some backlash from podcasters who are not happy to have their shows secretly added to Himalaya.

]]>http://podcasternews.com/2019/02/21/your-podcast-may-have-been-added-to-himalaya/feed/0Slow Burn Podcast to Become a Docuserieshttp://podcasternews.com/2019/02/21/slow-burn-podcast-to-become-a-docuseries/
http://podcasternews.com/2019/02/21/slow-burn-podcast-to-become-a-docuseries/#respondThu, 21 Feb 2019 00:04:32 +0000http://podcasternews.com/?p=4690Continue reading Slow Burn Podcast to Become a Docuseries→]]>Premium network EPIX has greenlit Slow Burn, a six-episode docuseries based on the hit podcast of the same name. From Nixon and Watergate to Clinton’s impeachment, host Leon Neyfakh excavates the strange subplots and forgotten characters involved in the downfall of a president – flashing back to politically tumultuous times not so far removed from today.

Slow Burn is produced by Slate. The docuseries will be produced in partnership between Left/Right, a Red Arrow Studios company, and Slate.

Season one of EPIX’s series adaptation will mirror that of the podcast, looking back on the Watergate crisis and exploring its parallels with the present.

“With Slow Burn, Leon Neyfakh took a profound and compelling journey through some of the most unforgettable times in political history,” said Michael Wright, President, EPIX. “As huge fans of the podcast, we’re thrilled to work with our partners at Slate, Left/Right and, of course, Leon, to further explore what he so brilliantly brought to the fore.”

Slow Burn is executive produced by Leon Neyfakh, along with Ken Druckerman and Banks Tarver for Left/Right and Dan Check, Julia Turner and Gabriel Roth for Slate.

Neyfakh started his reporting carreer at the New York Observer before joining The Boston Globe as the staff writer for the Ideas section covering the world of academia. At Slate, he reported on the criminal justice system and the Justice Department before co-creating Slow Burn with Andrew Parsons.

Most recently, Neyfakh launched an independent podcast studio, Prologue Projects, and this spring will launch a new podcast called Fiasco. The first season will focus on the 2000 election, and the second – following later in 2019 – on the Iran Contra affair.

]]>http://podcasternews.com/2019/02/21/slow-burn-podcast-to-become-a-docuseries/feed/0PRX Seeks Director of Productionshttp://podcasternews.com/2019/02/20/prx-seeks-director-of-productions/
http://podcasternews.com/2019/02/20/prx-seeks-director-of-productions/#respondWed, 20 Feb 2019 04:27:00 +0000http://podcasternews.com/?p=4687Continue reading PRX Seeks Director of Productions→]]>PRX is at the epicenter of the audio revolution, bridging broadcast, digital and mobile with a portfolio of exceptional programs including PRI’s The World, The Takeaway, The Moth Radio Hour, On Being, This American Life and the Radiotopia podcast network. PRX is seeking a Director of PRX Productions.

PRX is looking for a seasoned producer and manager with a sharp sense of story, experience building a creative team, and a sophisticated understanding of the podcast landscape. If you are someone who is comfortable with talent, technology, and the business of dynamics that are shaping the on-demand audio landscape then this is the opportunity for you.

Required Qualifications include:

At least 7+ years of writing and producing successful podcasts and/or radio programs

A passion for innovative stories and impactful content

An ability to juggle multiple concurrent projects

A proven track record of meeting financial goals, managing a budget and setting key business objectives

Experience launching productions from scratch and collaborating on making existing probrams better

An ability to foster strong partnerships

Demonstrated experience building, leading and maintaining a strong creative team

A natural problem-solver

A team player with an ability to communicate effectively across functional teams, clients, colleagues and others

Highly organized and able to meet weekly deadlines

Proven critical thinking and problem-solving skills

This position is based in Boston. PRX employees are offered health, dental and life insurance benefits, short- and long-term disability, a 401k retirement plan, and paid vacation and parental leave.

Visit the PRX want ad for full details.

]]>http://podcasternews.com/2019/02/20/prx-seeks-director-of-productions/feed/0Open Markets Wants the FTC to Block the Spotify Dealhttp://podcasternews.com/2019/02/19/open-markets-wants-the-ftc-to-block-the-spotify-deal/
http://podcasternews.com/2019/02/19/open-markets-wants-the-ftc-to-block-the-spotify-deal/#respondTue, 19 Feb 2019 04:58:34 +0000http://podcasternews.com/?p=4682Continue reading Open Markets Wants the FTC to Block the Spotify Deal→]]>Open Markets is a team of journalists, researchers, lawyers, and advocates who work together to expose and reverse the stranglehold that corporate monopolies have on our country. They want the Federal Trade Commission to block the Spotify deal.

Spotify yesterday announced plans to buy podcast producer and network Gimlet Media for $230 million as well as podcast recording startup Anchor, two of the most important platforms in the podcast industry. The Open Markets Institute calls for the Federal Trade Commission and European enforcers to block the deals. The market for podcasts is one of the few news media markets that is growing, diverse, and successful, and antitrust enforcers should head off efforts by platform monopolists to take control over the industry.

The podcast market today includes a wide range of truly independent voices able to finance their operations with advertising revenue. Listeners, meanwhile, are able to download podcasts with little interference or personalized tracking by third-party software or advertising monopolists. And this old-school, open market system works. In 2017, US podcast ad revenues was $314 million dollars, and is forecast to hit $659 million by 2020.

This early stage market is, however, highly vulnerable to enclosure. Spotify CEO Daniel Ek has said he plans to spend some $500 million total to buy podcasts and podcast platforms just this year. Such a position would enable Spotify to begin to capture a significant amount of the advertising revenue that now goes straight to podcasters.

A takeover of Anchor, in particular, could also prove to be especially harmful to the industry. Anchor has provided a platform for start-up podcasters to produce, host, and sell advertising for their podcasts. If Spotify plans to change Anchor’s model, it may stifle new players, or lock them into a Spotify controlled system.

The present diversity in the Podcast industry is directly tied to market structure. There is vertical separation between the layers of the market, with software, production, and advertising done independently of one another. There is limited or no data collection, so there is no user-centric behavioral targeting or privacy breaches. This means podcast producers can still profit in a fair market for advertising sponsorships and compete fairly for an audience.

It is vital that the Federal Trade Commission and European anti-monopoly enforcers not only move to protect the podcast market, they should also study it closely for lessons to apply to other news media markets. The podcast market is a glowing example of what an open market looks like in America and the abundance it brings to both creators and listeners, and the political and civic dialogue it enables among citizens.

]]>http://podcasternews.com/2019/02/19/open-markets-wants-the-ftc-to-block-the-spotify-deal/feed/0Supporting Cast Helps Podcasters with Membership Revenuehttp://podcasternews.com/2019/02/17/supporting-cast-helps-podcasters-with-membership-revenue/
http://podcasternews.com/2019/02/17/supporting-cast-helps-podcasters-with-membership-revenue/#respondSun, 17 Feb 2019 03:28:12 +0000http://podcasternews.com/?p=4679Continue reading Supporting Cast Helps Podcasters with Membership Revenue→]]>Supporting Cast wants to help podcasters with membership revenue. It will handle some of the more tedious and time consuming aspects that are involved in projects that are intended to make money for the podcaster. It enables the podcaster to work on other things – like creating content.

Invite your most passionate fans to pay for ad-free shows, bonus content, or early access. Supporting Cast lets your brand shine, while handling payments, private feed delivery, analytics, and customer support so you don’t have to.

Supporting Cast was created by the team that built Slate Plus, the largest podcast-centric membership program in the world. The team says they learned a lot from signing up nearly 50,000 members. Now, they’re sharing that with other podcasters.

What does Supporting Cast do?

They make it fast and easy for fans to subscribe to your podcast.

They keep your brand front and center. You can direct your listeners to a branded landing page with your logo and color scheme.

They can work with your developers to integrate with your website and registration system so users can convert without leaving. Podcasters own the listenership relationship either way.

They make it easy for podcasters to continue delivering ads to non-paying listeners.

Podcasters who want to know more can sign up for a demo by filling out a form on the Supporting Cast website. There is no mention on the Supporting Cast website that says what their service costs.

]]>http://podcasternews.com/2019/02/17/supporting-cast-helps-podcasters-with-membership-revenue/feed/0Spotify will Terminate Your Account if You Use an Ad Blockerhttp://podcasternews.com/2019/02/12/spotify-will-terminate-your-account-if-you-use-an-ad-blocker/
http://podcasternews.com/2019/02/12/spotify-will-terminate-your-account-if-you-use-an-ad-blocker/#respondTue, 12 Feb 2019 04:41:08 +0000http://podcasternews.com/?p=4675Continue reading Spotify will Terminate Your Account if You Use an Ad Blocker→]]>Spotify has created new user guidelines that will go into effect on March 1, 2019. It is always a good idea to read over user guidelines when you start using a new service, or when the service updates its rules. One thing to be aware of is that Spotify does not want you to use ad blockers.

The User Guidelines portion of the Spotify Terms and Conditions of Use prohibits the following: “circumventing or blocking advertisements in the Spotify Service, or creating or distributing tools designed to block advertisements in the Spotify service.”

Breaking this rule (or any others) may result in immediate termination or suspension of your Spotify Account. In addition, Spotify “may reclaim your username for any reason.”

Fast Company reported that the use of ad blockers has “annoyed” Spotify for a long time. In March of 2018, Spotify disclosed “instances of approximately two million users as of December 31, 2017” who had been “suppressing advertisements without payment”. In short, this means plenty of people who had a free Spotify account used ad blockers to avoid having to listen to advertisements.

Variety reported in March of 2018 that Spotify was disabling the accounts of users who used unauthorized third-party apps that bypassed the limits of the free Spotify account. It sounds to me like these users basically “hacked” the paid version.

It is possible that Spotify’s crackdown on ad blockers could influence some users to pay for Spotify’s ad-free service. People who love Spotify might decide it is time to pay for the ad-free subscription. Those who cannot afford to buy a Spotify subscription, and who want to use an ad blocker, might start listening to music on YouTube instead.

]]>http://podcasternews.com/2019/02/12/spotify-will-terminate-your-account-if-you-use-an-ad-blocker/feed/0Enter the My RØDE Cast Competitionhttp://podcasternews.com/2019/02/11/enter-the-my-rode-cast-competition/
http://podcasternews.com/2019/02/11/enter-the-my-rode-cast-competition/#respondMon, 11 Feb 2019 01:52:12 +0000http://podcasternews.com/?p=4671Continue reading Enter the My RØDE Cast Competition→]]>The inaugural My RØDE Cast competition has begun! Podcasters are invited to create and submit a 1-2 minute podcast to go in the running to win a share in $150,000 of amazing prizes. You must enter before March 12, 2019.

RØDE put together information about how to enter:

One: Download the starter pack. It has the full details of the competition, as well as a bunch of things to inspire you and help you create an awesome entry.

Two: Create your podcast. It must be 1-2 minutes long. It can be any style – documentary, narrative, chat, etc. – and on any topic you choose. It needs to be recorded as a single stereo audio file, either MP3 or WAV format.

Three: Upload your podcast on the upload page. RØDE will check to see if it meets the terms and conditions and then publish it to their podcast channel. It will then be available for everyone to listen to.

Four: Tell your friends, and get them to vote for your podcast. There’s a People’s Choice prize up for grabs.

The judges include:

Mike Dawson – voice, engineer and co-producer of The Adam Corolla Show. He is also a Guinness World Record holder for Most Downloaded Podcast.

Jacob Salamon – Co-founder and CEO of WISECRACK, which reaches over 50 million people a month

Jordon Lott – Content coordinator at Acast and producer of The Thinkergirls podcast

There are three Prize Packs:

Major Winner’s Prize Pack:

RØDE RØDECaster Pro Podcast Production Studio

RØDE PodMic x 4

RØDE PSAI Studio Boom Arm x 4

RØDE XLR Cable x 4

RØDE SC6-L Mobile Interview Kit

RØDE Podcast Cover Art Design

Urbanears Zinken Headphones x 4

Blastwave FX Podcaster Sound Effects and Music Library

Adobe CC 1 Year Subscription

School of Podcasting.com 1 Year Subscription

Angelbird SSD2GO PKT 1TB

Primacoustic London 8 Acoustic Room Kit

16GB microSD card

Runner’s Up Prize Pack:

RØDE RØDECaster Pro Podcast Production Studio

RØDE PodMic x 2

RØDE PSAI Studio Boom Arm x 2

RØDE XLR Cable x 2

RØDE SC6-L Mobile Interview Kit

Urbanears Zinken Headphones x 2

Blastwave FX Podcaster Sound Effects and Music Library

Adobe CC 1 Year Subscription

SchoolOfPodcasting.com 1 Year Subscription

Angelbird SSD2GO PKT 1TB

16GB microSD card

People’s Choice Prize Pack:

RØDE RØDECaster Pro Podcast Production Studio

RØDE PodMic x 2

RØDE PSAI Studio Boom Arm x 2

RØDE XLR Cable x 2

RØDE SC6-L Mobile Interview Kit

Urbanears Zinken Headphones x 2

Blastwave FX Podcaster Sound Effects and Music Library

Adobe CC 1 Year Subscription

SchoolOfPodcasting.com 1 Year Subscription

Angelbird SSD2GO PKT 1TB

16GB microSD card

]]>http://podcasternews.com/2019/02/11/enter-the-my-rode-cast-competition/feed/0Spotify Acquired Gimlet Media and Anchorhttp://podcasternews.com/2019/02/07/spotify-acquired-gimlet-media-and-anchor/
http://podcasternews.com/2019/02/07/spotify-acquired-gimlet-media-and-anchor/#respondThu, 07 Feb 2019 00:35:57 +0000http://podcasternews.com/?p=4665Continue reading Spotify Acquired Gimlet Media and Anchor→]]>We heard that Spotify was in advanced talks to acquire Gimlet Media. In a surprise move, Spotify announced that it has not only acquired Gimlet Media, but also has acquired Anchor.

The transactions are expected to close in the first quarter of 2019 and subject to customary closing conditions. The terms of the transactions were not disclosed.

With these acquisitions, Spotify is positioned to become both the premier producer of podcasts and the leading platform for podcast creators. Gimlet will bring to Spotify its best-in-class podcast studio with dedicated IP development, production and advertising capabilities. Anchor will bring its platform of tools for podcast creators and its established and rapidly growing creator base.

Gimlet tweeted: “Big news: we are very excited to be joining @Spotify!” It included a Spotify tweet that said “Spotify to acquire Gimlet Media Inc. and Anchor. Read the press release here to learn more about how we’re accelerating growth in podcasting:” The tweet included a link to the Spotify press release.

Anchor posted on Medium an article titled “Anchor is joining Spotify”. It clarifies a few things. Anchor says that it will be bringing Anchor’s suite of tools for podcast creation, distribution, and monetization, to Spotify’s community of more than 200 million global users.

Anchor also said: “If you are already using Anchor to make your podcast, today’s news means great things for your ability to create and build your show. To be clear, the way you create, distribute, and monetize on Anchor does not change. We will continue to operate Anchor’s platform as you know it (but now as part of Spotify!), and in fact will only be getting better.”

]]>http://podcasternews.com/2019/02/07/spotify-acquired-gimlet-media-and-anchor/feed/0Spotify is in Advanced Talks to Aquire Gimlet Mediahttp://podcasternews.com/2019/02/04/spotify-is-in-advanced-talks-to-aquire-gimlet-media/
http://podcasternews.com/2019/02/04/spotify-is-in-advanced-talks-to-aquire-gimlet-media/#respondMon, 04 Feb 2019 21:56:59 +0000http://podcasternews.com/?p=4661Continue reading Spotify is in Advanced Talks to Aquire Gimlet Media→]]>According to Recode, Spotify is in advanced talks to acquire Gimlet Media. Spotify reportedly plans to pay more than $200 million to buy Gimlet Media.

If this deal happens, it will be the first time Spotify has bought a content company. It will also be one of the biggest acquisitions in the podcasting industry.

It is possible that Spotify is looking to compete with Apple Podcasts for podcast listeners. Recode noted that while Apple is the dominant podcast distributer, it doesn’t appear to spend much energy on podcasts. Spotify has already started promoting podcasts to its 200 million users.

Hot Pod pointed out that Spotify has already started emphasizing a content strategy where it brings “voices in-house, or at least exclusively licenses their content”.

One of those deals involved Amy Schumer. Her comedy podcast 3 Girls 1 Keith is exclusively on Spotify.

Spotify reported that The Joe Budden Podcast brought its series exclusively to Spotify on September 12, 2018. The Apple Podcast listing for The Joe Budden Podcast has some extremely short episodes that direct listeners to seek out the podcast on Spotify.

Jemele Hill’sUnbothered podcast will launch on Spotify in March of 2019. It will be hosted by Jemele Hill and her co-hosts, and will include a rotating cast of guests. It will provide an honest discussion of American life. It appears this podcast will be exclusive to Spotify.

]]>http://podcasternews.com/2019/02/04/spotify-is-in-advanced-talks-to-aquire-gimlet-media/feed/0SoundCloud Co-Founder is Stepping Downhttp://podcasternews.com/2019/02/01/soundcloud-co-founder-is-stepping-down/
http://podcasternews.com/2019/02/01/soundcloud-co-founder-is-stepping-down/#respondFri, 01 Feb 2019 06:58:19 +0000http://podcasternews.com/?p=4659Continue reading SoundCloud Co-Founder is Stepping Down→]]>Eric Wahlforss a co-founder of SoundCloud, announced that he is stepping away from the platform. He has been with the company for more than a decade, most recently in the chief product officer role.

The decision was announced by Eric Wahlforss on January 24, 2019, on Twitter. Part of that tweet says:

…As many of you know, I am someone who loves to build and create new things.

After more than 11 years of building up our wonderful platform for artists, DJs and audio creators, I have come to the realization that now is the right time for me to take a break, reflect and think about what to create next.

So I have decided to step back from day-to-day operations at SoundCloud, and transition into an advisory role for the company starting March 1st…

If you missed the news about this change at SoundCloud when it was originally posted on Twitter, I assure you that you weren’t the only one. I was unaware of it until today, and could not find many articles about it.

Engadget reported that Eric Wahlforss’s departure means that SoundCloud’s original founders will no longer be involved in the day-to-day operations of the company. Co-Founder Alex Ljung stepped aside as CEO in July of 2017, and was later replaced by Vimeo CEO Kerry Trainor.

]]>http://podcasternews.com/2019/02/01/soundcloud-co-founder-is-stepping-down/feed/0PodX 2019 will be in Nashvillehttp://podcasternews.com/2019/02/01/podx-2019-will-be-in-nashville/
http://podcasternews.com/2019/02/01/podx-2019-will-be-in-nashville/#respondFri, 01 Feb 2019 06:19:14 +0000http://podcasternews.com/?p=4655Continue reading PodX 2019 will be in Nashville→]]>PodX 2019 will take place in Nashville, Tennessee, on May 31- June 2, at the Music City Center. Tickets are available now. PodX 2019 is described as “the podcast convention you’ve been waiting for!”

PodX brings together your favorite networks, podcasters, and podcasts, from true crime and politics to pop culture and storytelling, all in one incredible weekend. Explore the world of podcasts, experience panel discussions and live shows, learn from experts, and expand your knowledge of the evolving art of podcasting, all at PodX.

There are approximately 50 featured presenters listed on the PodX 2019 website. At a glance, you can see a photo of each presenter, their name, and the name of their podcast. There could be more presenters added – and some might change – between now and the conference.

]]>http://podcasternews.com/2019/02/01/podx-2019-will-be-in-nashville/feed/0“Alexa – What’s Going to Get Smart – NEXT?” Echo In Your Carhttp://podcasternews.com/2019/02/01/alexa-whats-going-to-get-smart-next-echo-in-your-car/
http://podcasternews.com/2019/02/01/alexa-whats-going-to-get-smart-next-echo-in-your-car/#respondFri, 01 Feb 2019 03:31:37 +0000http://podcasternews.com/?p=4645Continue reading “Alexa – What’s Going to Get Smart – NEXT?” Echo In Your Car→]]>This month marks a year since I lost my Pop, Fred Wilkerson. It was only 10 days before his 75th Birthday and while I’ve missed him ever since, I’ve always been very transparent with my Dad and hence – we left nothing unsaid. I recommend it. One of the things he and I talked about all the way up until he was gone, which I finally adopted hard-core, was the utilization of smartspeakers/devices – in particular, the Echo line of devices from Amazon.

Computer. Zero Bar. Frozen (well, not really)

First it was him calling me at least twice a week to tell me the new commands he’d researched over the last week for his “Alexa.” Then it was the amount of “tasks” and “shopping lists” that they were being kept simply by mentioning something while inside his kitchen, office or workshop. It was finally the realization of the vast majority of his voice-recognition dreams that propelled him through every incarnation of STAR TREK. Walk right in. Talk right up. Get the information you don’t have now, from a kind voice that provides exactly what you ask for.

While I didn’t latch on until about 5 months before he died, when I did, it was with both feet. I started with a portable unit – The Echo Tap, that originally didn’t have the availability of a activate word, but had a button on top that you would “tap” (hence the name) to activate, speak what you wanted or were looking for and it would convey information. The value of this one was that it was rechargeable and wireless. From there I got two standard Echo units (second generation) to propel my two retail-based Podcast Studios. They made for perfect support agents for when research was needed, or for down times when it was time to jam to great tunes or listen to the newsy goings-on via a variety of news outlets.

A Home is Where the SmartSpeaker is…

Then came my dance with home automation. The lights were next. We wired (with, no wires ironically) my home studio and home theater rooms. Then came the FireTV add-on elements that allowed me to walk into my theater and say, “Alexa, let’s watch The Punisher on Netflix”, and have the lights dim, the TV come on, and align all the right digital planets to convey the angry barbs, bullets and bravado of one Frank Castle. A like request for Infinity War has become a favored Saturday work time advent regardless of my location.

Short Sleepy Time, a Daughter’s Tether to Grandpa

Next was the Master Bedroom (another standard second generation Echo unit) which is the daily conveyor of “My Morning Playlist” that sets the tone for my day, and allows my daughter to connect with me via intercom-like tech, who also now has her Grandpa’s first generation Echo in her room – custom wrapped literally watching over her as she sings along with Katy Perry, Maroon 5 and the entire soundtrack series landscape of artists on the Toy Story 1, 2 and 3. Then our Kitchen – which features the newest second generation Dot unit, that offers comparatively exquisite sound that’s just right for a room where sizzling omelettes and the perfect Freddie Mercury sound-a-like create a regular stage for an invisible and dazzled audience.

What. Comes. Next?

A notification message, sent to me late last year, provided me with a vision of what’s to come. While the Alexa app has been living on my phone (another something that my Pop foresaw years ago) It’s the literal, mobile connectivity that will be arriving, at a very special price for early-adopters later this year. An Echo device for your CAR is what’s on the way next. One of the last things I remember he and I talking about was that you “can’t take things with you.” Well, in this case – you can, Pop. You. Can.

I’ll have a follow up note about the auto-based Echo unit when it arrives and will enjoy making it another connection to information, details and connectivity that we’ve really never had before. For Podcasters? It’s the next evolution of what we’ll need to pack the punch that radio has had since inception.

Are you utilizing smartspeakers/devices regularly? Have you notice focused growth inside any of the platforms that cater to smartspeaker-centric offerings? Tell me which one and what you use it for inside the comments section below!

]]>http://podcasternews.com/2019/02/01/alexa-whats-going-to-get-smart-next-echo-in-your-car/feed/0NOW Can We Call It Cool? A Perspective on The New Rode RODECaster Prohttp://podcasternews.com/2019/02/01/now-can-we-call-it-cool-a-perspective-on-the-new-rode-rodecaster-pro/
http://podcasternews.com/2019/02/01/now-can-we-call-it-cool-a-perspective-on-the-new-rode-rodecaster-pro/#respondFri, 01 Feb 2019 02:15:27 +0000http://podcasternews.com/?p=4627Continue reading NOW Can We Call It Cool? A Perspective on The New Rode RODECaster Pro→]]>I have been capturing, editing, promoting, producing and creating live capture facilities where the focus is talking about podcasts since 2005 and guess what? I’ve never required anyone give me a “multi-track series of files” to get any editing, production or podcast-based generation done – ever.

While I know this probably knocks back the sneakers of a variety of you reading, I wanted to first talk about what was, what is, and what shall be in the very near future.

My first podcast in 2005, was recorded as a Windows Media Player .WAV file, created with two el-crappo (that’s an official designation) Logitech, over-the-ear gaming headsets a ton of frustration and more ums, ers, uhs, y’knows and lipsmacking than anyone on planet Earth has ever experienced – as one, single file.

While each featured editing, post-production and an ever-shrinking UmErUhYknow Reel, each of them featured a couple of guys talking, that didn’t generally “talk over” each other.

“Where are you going with all this, Mike?”

I have used probably every device, doo-dad and “what if we try this” that’s been put out to capture podcast content over the years, and recently, a marvel of concept, technology and project completion was release by a company called, Rode. The device is a complete, in-on-simple small console device podcast recorder called The Rode RODECaster Pro. Put as simply as Doc Brown did inside the original Back to the Future feature film when referring to Mary’s camcorder as a “portable television studio”, The Rode RODECaster Pro is literally the central component to anyone’s future, much-portable Podcast Studio. Everything from the mic inputs, to the headphone inputs, to the cell phone inputs, to the optional sound/firing buttons for media files and sound effects, that even saves all of the information locally so that two mics, some cables, and a power source net you a literal, portable podcast studio. It. Is. Amazing. It. Is. Simple. And when it came out, it was resoundingly “hated” by all of the people that thought it was “kind of a good idea” except of course for the fact that it “didn’t record in multi-track.” Well, that’s getting a deployable software fix so – now it WILL capture and provide multi-track for anyone that has one.

NOW can we call this officially a great idea and product?

I guess what I’m driving at the most is that, especially inside an edited program, how often is crosstalk/talking over each other/whatever your team calls it – a giant problem? When you have an interview show that has lots of new guests or perhaps people that just don’t care of they’ve not taking appropriate turns – I guess i can see it. But I’ve literally never had a problem leaning across the desk, or into the teleconference suite speakerphone being used to capture the interview (that’ll be yet ANOTHER !GASP!-creating article) and asking the person to “remember, let’s take turns speaking so that people can hear what point both of us is trying to convey.” It’s one of the largest frustrations I have when reading “reviews’ of the Rode RODECaster Pro. My very brief note of it above DOES NOT DO THIS INSTRUMENT justice, but let’s be plain – this is newfound technology collective magic, for a good price, from an experienced company, in a burgeoning industry, that will be changing the podcast environment.

To whine incessantly because it “doesn’t record in multi-track” is something I just don’t comprehend, especially knowing that “the fix” was coming/will be a software update. There are a handful of other detracting elements (most-notably, that it will only record currently to an on-board micro-SD card – it is small, it is persnickety for those of us with reasonably el-crappo eyes) that just can’t possibly pile up to plunder the potential podcast punch this product promises to deliver.

What’s Your Worst-case Crosstalk/Talk Over Each Other Sample?

So I ask YOU – tell me YOUR “worst crosstalk/talk over each other moment, and why you let it continue so much that you now REQUIRE to have multi-track recordings for say, editing jobs where interjecting some simple direction would make things simpler, smaller, and much more straight forward!

Do it in the comments below!

]]>http://podcasternews.com/2019/02/01/now-can-we-call-it-cool-a-perspective-on-the-new-rode-rodecaster-pro/feed/0SquadCast v 1 has Launched!http://podcasternews.com/2019/01/30/squadcast-v-1-has-launched/
http://podcasternews.com/2019/01/30/squadcast-v-1-has-launched/#respondWed, 30 Jan 2019 05:28:12 +0000http://podcasternews.com/?p=4624Continue reading SquadCast v 1 has Launched!→]]>SquadCast announced the launch of SquadCast v 1. It is their first official step out of beta. SquadCast allows you to “put an end to your toxic relationship with remote interviews”.

It’s about time for remote podcast interviews to not suck so much. Settle down without settling at all with SquadCast.

SquadCast listened to people who provided clarity on what matters most, and what doesn’t, in an audio recording platform. For example, they listened to the San Francisco Podcasters Association, who told them that “audio drift is a huge problem”. This was one piece of advice that made it clear that the post-production experience of editing audio is paramount.

SquadCast believes you deserve to have a reliable podcasting service in your life. They exist to amplify your ideas and conversations, not hinder them.

]]>http://podcasternews.com/2019/01/30/squadcast-v-1-has-launched/feed/0RØDECaster Pro Adds Multi-Channel Modehttp://podcasternews.com/2019/01/26/rodecaster-pro-adds-multi-channel-mode/
http://podcasternews.com/2019/01/26/rodecaster-pro-adds-multi-channel-mode/#respondSat, 26 Jan 2019 04:47:37 +0000http://podcasternews.com/?p=4621Continue reading RØDECaster Pro Adds Multi-Channel Mode→]]>RØDECaster Pro is the world’s first fully integrated podcast production studio. Whether you are just starting out, or are a seasoned broadcast professional, the RØDECaster Pro Podcast Production Studio is all you will ever need.

The RØDECaster Pro operates as a standalone unit straight out of the box, recording your finished podcast direct to a microSD card. The RØDECaster Pro also connects to your computer as a USB audio interface, so you can record your podcast to your favorite recording software or stream live.

And with the new 1.1.0 software version available in February 2019, you will be able to separately record in multi-channel mode, allowing you to separately record each of the sources to its own track for later post-production.

]]>http://podcasternews.com/2019/01/26/rodecaster-pro-adds-multi-channel-mode/feed/0David Tennant Does a Podcast With…http://podcasternews.com/2019/01/26/david-tennant-does-a-podcast-with/
http://podcasternews.com/2019/01/26/david-tennant-does-a-podcast-with/#respondSat, 26 Jan 2019 03:45:11 +0000http://podcasternews.com/?p=4617Continue reading David Tennant Does a Podcast With…→]]>Somethin’ Else announced a new podcast called David Tennant Does a Podcast With… It is hosted by David Tennant, who will talk with the biggest names from TV, movies, comedy, and elsewhere in each episode.

The podcast is being released from Somethin’ Else’s podcast studio, Sound Directions. The Apple Podcasts description says it is “A Somethin’ Else and No Mystery production”.

Future episodes will see Tennant welcome a diverse selection of influential names including Whoopi Goldberg, Sir Ian McKellen, Jon Hamm, the former Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Michael Sheen, Krysten Ritter and Samantha Bee. Doctor Who fans will also be excited to hear that Tennant will host the current Doctor, Jodie Whittaker, in the coming weeks. More names will be announced imminently.

The podcast’s first episode will feature Olivia Colman, who has been nominated for Best Actress at the Oscars and the BAFTAs for her role as Queen Anne in the critically acclaimed ‘The Favorite’. Episodes will be released every Tuesday on Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all good podcast providers.

]]>http://podcasternews.com/2019/01/26/david-tennant-does-a-podcast-with/feed/0Podchaser Announced Their 2019 Roadmaphttp://podcasternews.com/2019/01/22/podchaser-announced-their-2019-roadmap/
Tue, 22 Jan 2019 05:31:07 +0000http://podcasternews.com/?p=4614Continue reading Podchaser Announced Their 2019 Roadmap→]]>Podchaser announced their 2019 roadmap and 2018 review. They revealed several things that are coming to Podchaser in 2019, as well as their solutions to the decentralization dilemma.

One of the things Podchaser is doing is allowing for merchandise. You can sync your TeePublic store with your podcast page on Podchaser. Now, when you direct listeners to rate and review on Podchaser, you can ask them to buy a t-shirt, too.

I think this is an interesting idea. Many podcasts have logos that can easily go on t-shirts and tank tops. Podchaser is making it easier for listeners to not only know that the t-shirts exist, but also where to buy one.

In addition, Podchaser will soon allow podcasters to connect their existing donation platform account with their Podchaser podcast page so listeners can contribute to your podcast via Podchaser. This could potentially mean that podcasters who have a Patreon could connect that with their Podchaser page. Podchaser is asking for suggestions about which donations platforms they should support.

Podchaser is also working on solutions for discovery of podcasts:

“Follow” Podcasts, Creators & Lists: By creating an account and utilizing Podchaser’s upcoming “Follow” feature, you’ll be notified when a podcast releases a new episode, a Creator appears on a podcast, or a List is updated.

Smart Recommendations & Feed: Podchaser is launching a custom feed full of recommendations created just for you. It combines your “Follow” data, listening habits, and ratings/reviews.

Featured Snippets: Once a podcast is claimed, Creators can add a featured snippet for a podcast and each episode to give listeners a taste of the content. These snippets will appear in users’ feeds as part of Podchaser’s Smart Recommendations.

Visit the Podchaser website for more information.

]]>ZCast Announced End of Broadcasthttp://podcasternews.com/2019/01/21/zcast-announced-end-of-broadcast/
Mon, 21 Jan 2019 16:18:14 +0000http://podcasternews.com/?p=4611Continue reading ZCast Announced End of Broadcast→]]>ZCast announced that after four years, they have decided to end their ZCast journey. They have provided some instructions for podcasters who have content on ZCast and who want to download it or move it elsewhere.

ZCast said that the decision to end ZCast was not an easy one. By way of explanation, they wrote “Unfortunately, startups are sometimes unpredictable and things change in rapid speed, at times for the best, but too many times for the worst.”

Those who have podcasts on ZCast need to be aware that ZCast will run in a minimal capacity between now and the end of January 2019. After that, it will shut down indefinitely.

There is now a download feature that enables users to download any content that they recorded in ZCast. To download an episode, users need to go to their personal ZCast page and use a button that is next to each episode to locate the “Download MP3” option.

Users who have an entire RSS feed are asked to choose a new hosting provider for their podcast, and then look at that host’s instructions on how to import an existing RSS feed into their platform. ZCast has more details about how to find your old RSS link on ZCast.

It is always a good idea to set aside time that you can dedicate to getting your content off of a hosting provider before it shuts down. Don’t wait until the last minute. There is an email address on the ZCast blog post that users can use if they have questions or concerns.